Report: India Wants H1B Tripled, Dangles Quid Pro Quo

India has made formal requests both to the U.S. and the World Trade Organization (WTO) to return the H1B program to 2000 levels. For a three-year period, the quota was temporarily raised to 195,000, but was lowered again to the original, and current, 65,000 ceiling, in 2003.

Nearly four out of every ten H1B visas go to computer professionals or people with other technical skills. Several major American IT firms, in fact, including Microsoft, have urged Congress to increase the number of H1B visas awarded each year. In April, for instance, Microsoft chairman Bill Gates called for increases, saying at the time that "We are very concerned that the U.S. will lose its competitive position" without more foreign workers.

According to The Economic Times, India will offer a quid pro quo if the number of visas is bumped up. "India has made enhancement of the H1B quota as a key bargaining chip for offering concessions on market access for industrial products and farm goods," highly-ranking government officials told the Times.